SERVING THE GRAIN HANDLING INDUSTRY IN KANSAS SINCE 1896.
GRAIN & FEED REPORT Upcoming Events August 8 - Cranor Hutchinson, KS
November 16-17 - KSABE Wichita, KS
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Kansas Grain and Feed Association
TANNER TEMPEL - KGFA INTERN
I am proudly from Garden City, Kansas which is located on the Western part of the state. I am a senior at Fort Hays State University, where I am majoring in Agriculture Economics with a minor in Political Science. I started working in the agriculture industry while in Garden City at WindRiverGrain LLC, where my duties included operations and maintenance tasks. In March, I was elected to be an Alternate Delegate for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. From that point, I was offered a political internship at the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. My time with the association has consisted of candidate research and recommendations, and observing legislature and education committees. I am a determined individual with a passion for Western Kansas and our country and will continue to pursue careers in helping the agricultural industry and the people within our country.
SAMANTHA TENPENNY - DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES
Samantha Tenpenny oversees all membership recruitment, retention and educational programs as the Director of Member Services for KGFA, KARA and Renew Kansas. As of May 16, Tenpenny also serves as the staff contact for the Membership and Training Committees and Kansas CCA program. Prior to graduating with her B.S. in Agriculture: Animal Science from Fort Hays State University in May of 2014, Tenpenny interned with KGFA and KARA in 2013. After graduation, she went to work for ADM Fertilizer in Overland Park, Kansas before returning to the Association Office.
DEVON STEWART - MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Devon Stewart has joined KGFA as the marketing and communications specialist, effective Feb. 1. Stewart oversees all communications products provided by the Association including print and electronic newsletters, websites, news releases, annual reports, online advertising and marketing brochures. Stewart will also serve as the Executive Director of the Kansas Ag Alliance as well as administer the scholarship program. Stewart graduated from Kansas State University in the spring of 2013 with her Bachelors of Science Degree in agriculture, majoring in agricultural communications and journalism. Stewart brings communications and marketing experience from her previous roles at both the American Maine-Anjou Association where she was the Director of Youth Activities and Show Events and most recently, Vance Publishing where Stewart was a National Accounts Manager
Kansas Grain Inspection Service to Provide Falling Number Determinations KGIS is pleased to announce that beginning Monday, July 11 they’ll have the necessary equipment and training to determine falling number. Due to increased requests we felt it was another beneficial service to provide for our customers. This service will be performed in the Topeka office, located at 3800 NW 14th St., Topeka, KS 66618. For more information contact Allen Trower, KGIS Quality Assurance Coordinator: 785-233-7063 OR atrower@kansasgrain.com
Kansas Legistlature Special Session, Fall Election
LEGISLATIVE
In response to a Kansas Supreme Court decision regarding inequitable state funding between school districts, wherein the court threatened to disallow any funding for the next school year (effectively shutting down the school system), the Kansas Legislature conducted a two-day special session to find $38 million in additional revenues to bolster the $4 billion Kansas education budget. Now starts the legislative election cycle where all state representatives and senators in our legislature stand for re-election. (Summary article only)
Atrazine Use Potentially Threatened Following EPA Report Public Comments Requested
On June 6th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft ecological risk assessment for its registration review of Atrazine. Registration review is EPA’s periodic review of a pesticide to ensure the pesticide continues to satisfy statutory standards. The review establishes whether, under current scientific standards, the pesticide can be used without causing unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. As part of the review process, EPA conducts an ecological risk assessment. During the ecological risk assessment of Atrazine, EPA relied on studies which its own Scientific Advisory Panel had previously deemed flawed. EPA’s reliance on this faulty science has resulted in new determinations which could, if left unchanged, severely limit producers’ ability to effectively use Atrazine. EPA is accepting public comments on its draft ecological risk assessment for Atrazine until August 5, 2016. You can file your comment to call on EPA to abide by their own science standards by going to the Regulations.gov website and clicking on the “Comment Now” box at the top of the page. See the full article for more information.
Minor Workers, Safety Rules and Your Facility -Kansas Grain and Feed Association, Staff
As school is out for the summer, there are special safety rules to consider before hiring a minor to work at your commercial grain warehouse. While the Kansas State Dept. of Labor enforces Kansas labor laws, our state laws regarding hazardous working conditions are not more restrictive than federal labor laws. For that reason, Kansas adopts and enforces federal regulations and standards regarding hazardous working conditions. In speaking with the U.S. Dept. of Labor (USDOL), under federal labor law, a commercial grain warehouse is not considered as “agriculture,” an “agricultural operation,” or a “farm-related business,” as those categories are strictly limited to production (on-farm) agriculture. Rather, a commercial grain warehouse is classified as a non-agricultural commercial warehouse or industrial facility. The USDOL provides the following information about safety rules and work restrictions that exist for youth workers (14-17 year olds) at commercial grain warehouse facilities: Federal Child Labor Rules for Nonagricultural Occupations under the Fair Labor Standards Act are set forth in USDOL Child Labor Bulletin No. 101. In summary, 14/15 year olds should not be working outside of the main office (no elevator work, no hand probing, etc.) at a commercial grain elevator. Workers aged 16/17 cannot do any task federal law defines as “hazardous.” This includes the operation of man lifts, hoists, forklifts, skid-steers, or operating legs. Additionally, while a 16/17 year old can push a broom/shovel in the elevator, they should not be in an elevator alone, should not be entering grain bins, and should not be directing trucks to dump grain, etc. In addition, a 16-17 year-old should not be driving as a regular part of their job duties. The bottom line for 14-17 year old workers, activities outside of the main office are extremely limited and require a heightened degree of supervision. See the full article for more information.
Roberts-Stabenow GMO Labeling Bill
KGFA has joined others in the Kansas agriculture community in support of a bi-partisan biotechnology disclosure bill sponsored by Republican Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas and Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. This bill, requiring a national labeling standard of genetically modified ingredients, represents a compromise in Congress and a national solution to the biotech product labeling issue which has fostered several separate state laws. This proposal gives consumers the information they want and need while not disparaging a proven-safe technology with what could be perceived as a warning label. The bill would require a national labeling standard of genetically modified organisms in packaged foods. The bill allows food companies to use a text label, symbol, or electronic label accessed by a smartphone. This is the most workable solution to the alternative prospect of a patch-work of confusing state standards. It is critically important that Congress pass the proposed Roberts-Stabenow legislation. Kansas farms, ranches and agribusinesses will gain from passage of this comprehensive bill. It is vital that Congress act immediately to pass the Roberts-Stabenow agreement and send it to the President for his signature. See the full article for more information.
** To read full articles, please visit our website at www.ksgrainandfeed.org.
UPDATE
Kansas House Session Concludes
The Kansas legislature completed the bulk of its work for the 2016 session early Monday morning, May 1st. The legislature approved a budget deal that doesn’t balance the budget as required by the Kansas Constitution, but instead relies on the Governor to make budget cuts. The budget package assumes the governor will make $88 million in budget cuts and a $115 million sweep from the state highway fund next year. The budget deal also delays a nearly $100 million payment into the state employees’ pension system. The legislature did return on June 1st for Sine Die, usually the ceremonial end of the session. This year, however, they did preform a bit of business by overriding a veto of a property tax reform bill overwhelmingly approved by both chambers.
Brief Special Session
Lawmakers returned to Topeka on Thursday, June 23rd to address the school finance lawsuit. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled the current block grant funding unconstitutional and gave lawmakers until June 30th (the last day of the current fiscal year) to make the funding equitable to both large and small school districts. Coming into the special session, some lawmakers had worked with stakeholders in the education community to develop a proposal to address the problem. While that proposal included the $38 million in funds needed to comply with the court order, it took $13 million of it from schools. When it became clear that proposal did not have the support necessary to pass, other lawmakers came forward with a plan to fund the $38 million without a cut to school districts. That proposal overwhelmingly was approved by the legislature. Governor Brownback, shortly thereafter, signed the legislation into law.
Local Mandate Prohibition Bill Approved
The Governor signed into law a bill that prohibits cities, counties, and other political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing policies pertaining to price control of real estate, labor work schedules, and nutrition labeling. The bill also would restrict cities and counties from administering residential rental property inspections if certain conditions are not met. This bill stems from trends in other states where local ordinances are imposing unreasonable standards on businesses and individuals more stringent than state law. KGFA strongly supported this bill.
Plant Pest Act Changes Approved
The Governor signed into law HB 2490, a bill changing the plant pest laws. The bill would add the definition of the term “toxicant” to the definitions of the Plant Pest Act. Under the bill, the term “toxicant” would mean any chemical, including agricultural chemicals which, if present in unsafe levels, can render a plant or plant product unsafe for human or animal consumption. The definition of the term “plant pest” would be amended to include “toxicant” and to include anything “which can cause a threat to public health.” The bill would grant additional authority to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to quarantine the state or parts of the state when it is necessary to contain a plant pest for the protection of public health. New authority also would be given to the Secretary to prevent the spread of a plant pest through quarantine into the state through its movement or transportation. KGFA strongly supported the bill.
Contaminated Property Redevelopment Act Approved
The Governor signed into law HB 2490, a bill changing the plant pest laws. The bill would add the definition of the term “toxicant” to the definitions of the Plant Pest Act. Under the bill, the term “toxicant” would mean any chemical, including agricultural chemicals which, if present in unsafe levels, can render a plant or plant product unsafe for human or animal consumption. The definition of the term “plant pest” would be amended to include “toxicant” and to include anything “which can cause a threat to public health.” The bill would grant additional authority to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to quarantine the state or parts of the state when it is necessary to contain a plant pest for the protection of public health. New authority also would be given to the Secretary to prevent the spread of a plant pest through quarantine into the state through its movement or transportation. KGFA strongly supported the bill.
Property Tax Reform Bill Veto Overridden
The Kansas Legislature overrode governor’s veto of a bill containing myriad taxpayer-friendly changes to the property tax valuation and appeals process. KGFA testified in support of this legislation and applauds the legislature for its override vote.
Property Tax Lid Sent to Governor
The 2016 Kansas Legislature passed Conference Committee Report on Senate Sub for HB 2088, a bill that accelerates by one year the effective date of a property tax lid / public vote requirement for cities and counties. Under the bill, proposed increases in property tax revenues levied beyond the rate of inflation will require voter approval, except that certain types of property tax increases are exempt from this requirement. The rate of inflation will be determined by a five-year rolling average.
** To read full articles, please visit our website at www.ksgrainandfeed.org.
Kansas Grain and Feed Association 816 SW Tyler, Suite 100 Topeka, Kansas 66612
Underwriter $15,000+ KFSA Founder $7,500 KGIS Benefactor $5,000 ADM Companies Watco Companies Patron $3,500 BNSF Railway Company Bunge North America Cargill CHS, Inc. CoBank ACB Frisbie Construction Co., Inc. Hammel Scale Industrial Maintenance, Inc. Korol Financial Group LLC Union Pacific Railroad Builder $2,000 Bartlett Grain Company Beachner Grain Inc.
Builder $2,000 (cont’d) C-TEC, Inc. First National Bank of Hutchinson Frontier Ag Inc. Hannebaum Grain Co. Inc. Highlands Livestock Services INTRUST Bank KC Supply Co. Inc. Louis Dreyfus Commodities McPherson Concrete Storage Systems Morrill Elevator Inc. Offerle Coop Grain & Supply Co. Team Marketing Alliance The Cooperative Finance Association The Scoular Company Tri-States Grain Conditioning Inc. Donor $750 AgMark LLC Bank of the West BarnesCo Inc. CCS Group LLC Central States Fumigation Cline Wood Agency CoMark Grain Marketing, LLC
Donor $750 (cont’d) Cornerstone Ag LLC D.E. Bondurant Grain Drake, Inc. Equity Marketing Alliance Ernest-Spencer Farmers Coop Equity, Isabel Kansas Cooperative Council Midway Coop Assn. Irsik & Doll Feed Service Farmers Union Merc. & Shpg. Assn. Gamet Mfg. Inc. HABCO Hooker Equity Exchange Nemaha County Cooperative Pride Ag Resources The Ottawa Cooperative Assn. WindRiver Grain LLC Commodity Partners Kansas Soybean Commission Kansas Corn Kansas Wheat Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission Sorghum the Smart Choice
The Kansas Grain and Feed Report is published quarterly for the members, friends and affiliates of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. Mail contributions to KGFA, Attention: Devon Stewart, 816 SW Tyler, Topeka, KS 66612 The KGFA team welcomes your comments, contributions and suggestions. Annual subscriptions for members can be purchased for $25. © 2016 KGFA